Sheet-metal radius rod



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, R. SHMMONS SHEET METALv RADIUS ROD Filed March 20. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet1 j f1 ven/af' i Efmmoms.

v june 19, i923. ,45'9,5l9

R. P. s lMMQNs SHEET METAL RADIUS ROD Filed March 2o. 1923 ssheets-sheet 2 32* 3a' 4 I *v i? JW :f4 i Q 7/ June g; 1&9'230. 459519R. P. SIMMONS SHEET METAL RADIUS ROD Filed March 20, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet5 JW ff@ s) l v I l immona Patented .lune 19, 1923.

Y. ROBERT P. SIIHTONS,i OF CLEVELAND,OHIO.

SHEET-METAL RADIUS BOD.

Application led March 2.0, 1923. Seria1No.-626,249.

State of Ohio, have invented a certain new' and useful 1 Improvement inSheet-Metal Radius Rods, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a sheet metal radius rod.

Heretofore'this type of radius rodv has been made from tubes in the endsof which has been welded or otherwiseA secured a forging by means ofwhich the rod has been secured to the engineand axle or other parts ofthe' automobile.

`One-Well known construction is to employ a two-piece socket connectedto the crank case of-theengine and fitting into this twopiece socket isthe spherical end of a forged coupling, -said coupling having separatedmember-sto which the tubular radius rods are welded or otherwise securedandthe opposite ends of these radius rods have been providedwithvforgings either in the form of albolt adapted toproj ect through theaxle or having an eye for fastening to the axle by vmeans of a bolt. l

Radius rods constructed in this manner are lmore expensive tomanufacture and do not possess the same amount of strength as the radiusrod herein shownv and described`.`

Broadly speaking, the invention consists in providing a sheet metalblank and shaping `the same to provide at one end one half oftheconnecting portion which fits into the socketV and at `|thev other end areinforcing portion shaped for connection to the axle.

The invention consists also in the novel form of the complementary endportions and also the novel form ofthe reinforced end. The inventionconsists also in certain details hereinafter fully described and setforth in the appended claims. y

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Fig. 1 is a viewshowing one of theradius rods; Fig. 2 is ak view showing the otherradius rod; Fig.` 3 is a view showing the radius rods connected togetherin their proper positions for connection to the motorvehicle.

Fig. 4 is a .view showing the rear ends arranged together ready forinsertion into a spherical socket.

VFig. 5 a View of the blank. i i

Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9,' 10, 11, '11, 12, 13 andli show successive steps rinthe shapingl of v.the i rod.

Fig. 15 is and i Figs. 16, 17, 18 and 19 show a modified form of end andmethod of. making the same.

a side yview of the complete rod;

rods and at the rear end ,thereof there is a closed neck portion 11 andat the? end ofthis neck portion 11 is the hollow hemispherical head 12having a lip `13 -disposed along the edge, and preferably setbackfromsaid edge as shown. At the opposite end of` the, tubulary bodyportion 10 there isan integral apertured enlargement 14C and thisenlarge-l ment; isvvo-ffset from the longitudinal kaxis ofthe vtubularrod'portionl() as most clearly shown. 15 indicates the tubular bodyportion of lthe radius rod whichy is likewise formed withthe closed neckportion 11 and thev complementary hollow hemispherical portion 12 havingthe offset integral llip 13 and these hemispherical lhead portions: are

so` constructed that when placed together they .will provide aco-mpletesphere which fitsintothe two-part socket 16 arranged upon thefbottom ofl.the engine crank case and the offset lip `portions lfengage the`interiorfaces ofnthe opposed heady portions and thereby hold saidcomplementary-head portions from relative movement-...one with theother. j 'i inasmuch as Athese complementary head portions areAittedinto a clamping-socket the interlocking lip portions may in someinstances be dispensed with if so desired and if' some locking meansmust be: provided in order to prevent .anypossiblemovement I mayinterpose a ball shown in dotted lines at 17 which lits into thecomplementary hemispherical `head portions and thisball Referring to thedrawings 10`indicates thetubular body/portion of one ofthe radius I besolid or hollow as preferred. The

enlargements 14 in order to bring saidy en-y largements in the sameplane beneath the axle as most clearly shown.

A radius rod embodying the features just described and composed entirelykof sheet metal is stronger than a radius rod composed of ay tubularbody portion and forged ends. Furthermore, a radius rod composedentirely of sheet metal can be manufactured in less time than the oldtype and for less money.

In casefitl is preferred to -have the forward ends of the rods attachedto the axle by projecting the ends thereof through apertures intheaxlevit can be accomplished by forming the forward ends o-f the blank sothat they can be folded around a bolt or rod which can be projectedthrough the opening in the axle and secured by means of a nut, thefolded blank shown at 22 securely positioning the shouldered bolt or rodwhich in turn also serves as a reinforcement for the end of the rod.

In constructing radius rods from sheet metal in accordance with myinvention, I

'first punch the blank as shown at 30 having the head portion 31 atone-end and the enlargement 32 at the oppositeend. During the firstoperationthe edges of the' bodyv portion are bent up slightly as shownat 33 and in the third operation the edges o-f the neck are bent up asshown at34 and the opposite end is `cupped as shown at 35. During thenext operation the hemispherical form of the head is embodied as shownat 36, the'lip beingin the line with the edge of the head section andthe edges of the neck portion drawn somewhat closer together asindicated atk 38 and the cup-like portion at the opposite end is turnedslightly inward at one end as most clearly shown `at 39.

When 'the forward end of the vradius rod is to be offset a depression 40is producedv adjacent the cup-like portion which has been formed.' 1 pY, After the blank has passed throughthe operative stages just describeda washer 41 is inserted in the cup-like portion and then the edges ofthe rbody portion are brought to gether and likewise the edges of theneck portionthe neck portion being folded together and offset so as toprovide a substantially solid neck portion between the end of the.rtubular rod and the hollow hemi- .like portion (Fig. 14) and in thismanner the washer is securely fastened in the folded over sheet metalend providing a substantially solid endand then by means of suitableshaping dies the end thus formed is given its proper relative positionwith end being tially circular head and as before stated inasmueh as theradius rodsfare right and left and formed with complementary headportions which when slipped togetherl provide a spherical head whichlits into a socket it is necessary that the. forward end of one of therods be offset in order that the said forward ends can be arranged inthe same horizontal plane in case theforwardends ofv the radius rods areto be secured to the underside of the front axle. W'hen .the forward endof the radius rod is to be passed through the front axle the forwardrendof the blank is shapedslightly different as indicated at 22 and theshouldered bolt 24:v is placed in said end after the same has beenstamped to a semi-circular cross sectional form and then the end is.completely folded over the bolt, securely fastening the same, and theend is threaded providing the threaded end 230i' the reinforced'rod.The. shouldered boltprevents the withdrawallof the same, and theenlarged endprovides a point against which the offset ortion of blankcan be folded (ligj).v 7hen the neck portion is completely closed thelipis also offset inwardly as shown, this offsetting being necessary inorder toA permit the said lips tol engagey the interior surface of the'-opposite headl portion wheat-heg two hfead portions are placed togetherto provide a complete spherical head ywhich is tovbe fitted los neckportion, the hemispherical head por; y

tions being provided with means to prevent displacement.

Having thus described' my invention, what I claimis: w., i f;

1. A sheet metaliradius rod havingwa hemispherical` enlargement atoneend, and an apertured yenlargement at the opposite end. -v

'2. A sheet metal radius rodlhavinga heinispherical enlargement at onelend, and an apertured enlargement at the opposite end, said aperturedenlargement being reinforced. y Y 3. A sheet metal radius rod, .havingahemispherical enlargementv at one end, and a reinforced 'opposite'.,end,saidpreinforced shaped for attachment ,to the front axle.

k4. A sheet metal radius rod having la interlocking iso hemisphericalenlargement at one end and an apertured enlargement at the opposite end,both enlargements being offset from the Vlongitudinal axis of the rod,the apertured enlargement being' reinforced.

5. A pau' of sheet metal radius rods each having complementaryenlargements at oneA end adapted when combined to fit into a sphericalsocket, the opposite ends of said rods being shaped for sepa-rateattachment to the front aXle.

6. A pair of sheet metal radius rods each provided at one end with ahemispherical enlargement and at the opposite end with an aperturedenlargement, the hemispherical enlargements being adapted to fittogether rinto a spherical socket, the apertured enlargements beingshaped for attachment to the front axle at spaced points.

7. A pair of sheet metal radius rods each formed at one end with ahollow hemispherical enlargement and interlocking means for holding saidenlargement against separation.

tured enlarged portion, and a reinforcingl enlarged porannular memberWithin said tlon.

l0. A pair oi tubular sheet metal radius 'l rods each having asubstantially solid neck portion at its rear end and a hollowhemispherical portion at the rear end of said neck portion each hollowhemispherical portion having an offset lip', the opposite end or' eachrod having an aperture'd enlarge- -ment and a washer interposed in saidapertured enlargement.

ln testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiiX my ROBERT P. SIMMONS.

signature.

